Abstract: A new beginning was ushered in, in Afghanistan on December
22, 2001. Afghans everywhere and the world at large watched with anticipation.
Not many would know the full enormity of the task ahead of the interim
authority that took over for a period of six months. But many believe
in the power of love for a nation that might help it achieve its objectives,
which as per their definition are near impossibility. The founding of
a new Afghanistan, literally on the ashes of destruction and building
of a nation on the ruins of an infrastructure are not easy tasks by
any standard. And Karzai is only a human being.

It
is a cold and cloudy winter day by California standards. A rough breeze
is claiming the last of the leaves off the branches in preparation for
a new beginning in the upcoming spring. The evergreens, pines and firs,
stand tall and green in their majesty. And as I look into the distant
horizon, I think of the events that occurred today December 22, 2001,
thousands of miles away on the other side of the globe in a historic
city called Kabul.

Some
2000 people gathered in the cold Kabuli day in a hall in the Ministry
of Interior white washed for the occasion, to witness the swearing in
of an Interim Authority including 30 members. Many who could not get
into the hall wrapped themselves in heavy blankets and shawls and stayed
outside to listen to proceedings through loudspeakers. Remnants of war
and destruction, black burned structures and equipment dotted the courtyard.

The
Bonn agreement provided for the authority that brought to power a 44-year-old
Pashtun leader. As a classic example of the opinion that wars and devastation
in nations do produce new leaders, Hamed Karzai came down from the heights
of Simla in India where he studied political science to join an ongoing
Jihad against the invading Soviet forces in his homeland Afghanistan.
When I saw him in the resort city of Simla in India, for the first time
in early 1980, he was an emotionally charged youth desirous only to
see his country free from communist incursion. Now 22-years later that
young man of yore is entrusted with one of the most difficult jobs in
the world. He has six months-six precious months, to accomplish what
seems to be near impossibility. He has to lay down the foundation of
a new Afghanistan based on trust, hope and true devotion. He has to
work for the unity of a diverse nation that needs to let the bygones
be bygones. He has to provide for a real new beginning for his country
on literally the ashes of a long and devastating war. He has been assigned
a cabinet that is diverse and charged with nationalistic expectations.
He has to know first, and coordinate members of his cabinet. He also
has to reconcile many commanders of many factions and bring them together
in a united, centralized and national army. Some top level commanders
such as Ismail Khan who walked into the hall some half an hour late
and Uzbek warlord Dostum need to be befriended as they wanted major
shares in the new government. He has the formidable task of wiping out
warlordism. And then there is the question of the infrastructure. Education,
health, communication, agriculture, industries, mines, economy and re-launching
of an administrative system for the country all require urgent attention.
All of this at a time that the government coffers are empty and the
nation is bracing itself against a fifth hard and hungry winter.

And
then there is a war that is going on in the country as he takes charge.
Only yesterday, American bombers destroyed a convoy of vehicles that
was carrying southern Pashtun elders to Kabul for the swearing in ceremony.
Reportedly 65 leaders were killed. US authorities say they bombed the
convoy believing it carried El-Qaeda leadership. Friendly fire, flawed
intelligence reports and many other factors have played a great role
in collateral casualties to hundreds of Afghan innocent civilians and
villagers. The US war on terrorism has only achieved one of its objectives
namely the toppling down of Taleban. The El-Qaeda network destruction
in Afghanistan in sight, but Osama the son of Laden has evaded capture
or death so far.

As
the new Interim Authority takes power in Kabul, many members of the
international community are also reopening their embassies. The British,
the United States and Indian embassies were opened one after the other
last week. As the US marines hoisted the stars and stripes banner over
the American embassy, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs hoisted
his countryís flag on its embassy. As the British opened their embassy,
they pledged never again to leave Afghanistan alone. The German Chancellor
in a message to new interim leader Karzai, reminded him of the positive
decisions that had been taken at Petersberg near Bonn and pledged his
governmentís full support. The Italian legation is to reopen shortly
and Pakistanís Musharraf has said that his countryís embassy and counselor
offices will too, reopen as soon as possible. Iranian embassy in Kabul
is already functioning.

The
United Nations Security Council last week approved organizing of an
international peacekeeping force to assist the new interim administration
in its task of rebuilding of a government system. The first batch of
troops from England arrived already in Afghanistan. Other countries
including Italy and Turkey have pledged sending in troops for the same
purpose. Karzai would need these troops for the initial period of his
administration during which he would need to organize Afghan forces
under a national army independent of factional influences.

Afghans
everywhere and people of the world across the globe are watching with
anticipation as the new beginning is ushered in, in the life of the
old country, Afghanistan. May be not many do know the enormity of the
tasks ahead, but there are many who do believe in the power of love,
love for a nation, for its history, for its prides and traditions that
may enable this interim authority and the incoming transitional government
in six months time and the permanent government that is expected to
take over in another two years after the one and half-year life of the
transitional administration to heal the wounds of Afghanistan. 12/22/01